Biological toxicity of heavy metals to Caenorhabditis elegans / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the biological toxicity of heavy metals by using Caenorhabditis elegans. Methods The C. elegans at L4 stage were exposed to CdCl2 CrCl3 As2O3 PbCl2 HgCl2 with low concentrations and M9 buffer the control group for 72 h respectively and the effects of heavy metals with different concentrations on the survival time and reproduction of C. elegans were evaluated. Results After exposure to 2.5 10μmol/L HgCl2 and PbCl2 10μmol/L CdCl2 and 50μmol/L CrCl3 for 72 h respectively the life spans and survival curves of the C. elegans were different from those in the control group the differences were statistically significant all P<0.05 . After exposure to CdCl2 CrCl3 As2O3 PbCl2 and HgCl2 with the con?centrations of 2.5 50 100μmol/L for 72 h respectively the generational time and brood size of C. elegans were all different from those in the control group all P<0.01 . Among the 5 heavy metals at low concentrations the reproduction toxicity of Hg was bigger than Pb Cd Cr and the toxicity of As was the weakest. Conclusion Heavy metal exposure can affect the life span and reproductive toxicity of C. elegans.